306 Page Notes

19  Surah Maryam (continued)

Page 306 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 306 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 306 of the Quran covers Surah Maryam, verses 12 through 25. It serves as a bridge between two monumental miraculous births. The top portion completes the description of the qualities given to the young prophet Yahya (John). The middle and bottom portions transition into the story of Maryam (Mary), detailing her seclusion, her visitation by the Angel Jibril (Gabriel) in human form, the miraculous conception of Isa (Jesus), and her intense physical trials during childbirth beneath a palm tree.

The Hadith and Sunnah provide specific, profound context regarding Yahya's unique character, Jibril's physical manifestations, the protection of Maryam at birth, and even nutritional Sunnah derived from her labor.

1. The Flawless Character of Yahya (Verses 12–15)

The page opens with God addressing Yahya: "O John, take the Scripture with determination." It goes on to describe him as being granted affection, purity, and being "dutiful to his parents, and he was not a disobedient tyrant" (Verse 14). Verse 15 offers a unique blessing: "And peace be upon him the day he was born and the day he dies and the day he is raised alive."

The Sunnah highlights Yahya as a unique standard of moral purity among mankind. While all prophets are protected from sin, the Hadith explicitly states that Yahya never even felt inclined toward worldly transgressions.

Abdullah ibn Amr narrated that the Prophet Muhammad said:

"No one will meet Allah on the Day of Resurrection without having committed a sin, or at least intended to do so, except for Yahya bin Zakariyah. He never sinned, nor did he incline towards worldly desires."

— Musnad Ahmad (Hadith 6531, Authenticated by Al-Arna'ut); also recorded in Mustadrak al-Hakim

2. Maryam's Protection from Satan's Touch (Verse 16)

Verse 16 commands: "And mention in the Book, Mary..." as she withdrew from her family to an eastern place. The Sunnah explains that Maryam's lifelong capacity for absolute devotion and purity—which prepared her for this divine burden—began the very second she was born.

The Prophet noted that every human child is touched by Satan at birth, causing them to cry out, with only two historical exceptions.

Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said:

"No child is born but that Satan touches him at the moment of birth, so he begins to cry loudly because of the touch of Satan, except for Mary and her son [Jesus]."

Abu Hurayrah added: "Recite if you wish [her mother's prayer in 3:36]: 'And I seek refuge for her with You and for her offspring from Satan, the expelled.'"

— Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 4548) & Sahih Muslim (Hadith 2366)

3. Angel Jibril Appearing as a Man (Verses 17–19)

Verses 17 through 19 detail Maryam taking a screen to seclude herself, at which point God sent Jibril: "...and he represented himself to her as a well-proportioned man." Terrified, she seeks refuge in the Most Merciful, to which he replies, "I am only the messenger of your Lord to give you [news of] a pure boy."

This Quranic event establishes a precedent found heavily throughout the Sunnah: angels physically morphing into human forms to interact with humans. In the Prophet Muhammad's lifetime, Jibril famously did this to teach the companions the core pillars of faith.

Omar ibn al-Khattab narrated a famous cornerstone Hadith:

"While we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah one day, a man appeared before us whose clothes were exceedingly white and whose hair was exceedingly black... He sat down by the Prophet..."

After asking a series of questions about Islam, Iman, and Ihsan, the man left. The Prophet later told Omar: "O Omar, do you know who the questioner was? That was Jibril; he came to teach you your religion."

— Sahih Muslim (Hadith 8a)

Just as Jibril appeared to Maryam as a "well-proportioned man" to deliver a divine message, he appeared to the companions as a traveler to deliver divine instruction.

4. Labor and the Nutritional Sunnah of Dates (Verses 23–25)

The bottom of page 306 vividly depicts Maryam's labor pains driving her to the trunk of a palm tree. In her intense isolation and distress, she cries out: "Oh, I wish I had died before this and was in oblivion, forgotten!" (Verse 23). Jibril (or the infant Jesus, according to variant interpretations) calls out to comfort her, providing a stream of water beneath her and instructing her in Verse 25:

"And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates."

The Sunnah heavily reinforces the physical and spiritual benefits of consuming fresh dates (rutab), particularly for health, breaking fasts, and general vitality, mirroring the divine choice of nourishment provided to Maryam during her weakest physical moment.

Anas bin Malik narrated regarding the Prophet's regular habits:

"The Messenger of Allah used to break his fast with fresh dates (rutab) before praying. If fresh dates were not available, he would break his fast with dried dates (tamr)..."

— Sunan Abi Dawud (Hadith 2356) & Jami` at-Tirmidhi (Hadith 696, Authenticated by Al-Albani)

Classical scholars of prophetic medicine (Tibb al-Nabawi) point out that Allah choosing fresh dates for Maryam during childbirth highlights them as the absolute premier food for recovery, ease of delivery, and energy reinforcement for mothers (Ibn al-Qayyim, 1998).

References

Al-Asqalani, I. H. (2018). Fath al-Bari Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari. Dar al-Salam.

Ibn al-Qayyim, J. (1998). Medicine of the Prophet (Tibb al-Nabawi) (P. Johnstone, Trans.). Islamic Texts Society.

Ibn Kathir, I. (2003). Tafsir Al-Quran Al-Azim (Abridged) (Vol. 6). Darussalam Publishers.